Mounting device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a device for securely mounting goods on a display unit, the display unit having at least one mounting bar thereon. The device includes a housing having an aperture adapted to receive the mounting bar in use, and first and second mountings. A first fixing device may be coupled to the goods in use and then attached to the first mounting to allow the goods to be selectively attached to the housing. Similarly, a second fixing device may be coupled to the goods to allow the goods to be secured to the display unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting device and in particular, toa mounting device for mounting products, such as tools or the like, to adisplay stand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and shouldnot be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that theprior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

In recent years, the use and sale of products such as power tools hasrapidly increased following the increase in the popularity of DIY. As aresult of this, the number of makes and models of such tools, which aretypically sold to customers in hardware shops or the like, hasdramatically increased. Furthermore, the tools themselves are nowtypically smaller and more portable than their predecessors.

This leads to a number of problems. Thus, for example, the stores findit difficult to adequately display the tools to the customer,particularly in view of the number of different makes or modelsavailable. As a result the tools often have to be arranged in boxes onshelves. This, in turn makes it difficult for the user to choose a toolas the user cannot hold the tool to simulate its use.

Furthermore, in situations where shops do display unboxed tools, theportability of the tools makes security a major issue. This isexacerbated by the fact that the tools can have a significant monetaryvalue, which makes them ideal targets for shop lifting. As a result, thelikelihood of theft generally prevents tools being displayed to thepublic in an accessible manner that would allow the public to handle thetools.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In a first broad form the present invention provides a device forsecurely mounting goods on a display unit, the display unit having atleast one mounting bar thereon, the device including:

-   -   a) A housing having:        -   i) An aperture adapted to receive the mounting bar in use;        -   ii) A first mounting; and,        -   iii) A second mounting; and,    -   b) A first fixing device, the first fixing device being coupled        to the goods in use and being attachable to the first mounting        to allow the goods to be selectively attached to the housing;        and,    -   c) A second fixing device, the second fixing device being        coupled to the goods and the second mounting in use, to thereby        secure the goods to the display unit.

When the goods include tools the first fixing device is adapted tocouple to the respective tool, thereby allowing the tool to beselectively attached to the housing.

In the case in which the tool includes a drill having a drill chuckadapted to receive the drill bit in use, the first fixing device ispreferably adapted to be received by the drill chuck.

When the goods include an electrical power cable, the second fixingdevice is typically adapted to receive the power cable to thereby couplethe goods to the second fixing device.

Accordingly, the second fixing device typically includes a cable holderfor holding at least some of the power cable in use.

When the goods do not include an electrical power cable, the secondfixing device generally includes a mounting cable coupled thereto, themounting cable being secured to the goods in use to thereby couple thegoods to the second fixing device.

The second fixing device typically includes a clip, the second mountingbeing arranged such that in use the clip cooperates with the mountingbar to secure the goods thereto.

In use the clip may be manually released from the mounting bar tothereby selectively release the goods. However, as an alternative theclip may be adapted to require some form of releasing mechanism. Thus,for example, a tool may be provided to allow the clip to be releasedfrom the mounting bar. Alternatively, the device may have to be removedfrom the mounting bar in order to allow the clip to be released. It willbe appreciated that the technique employed may be chosen depending onthe level of security required.

Typically the device further includes product information regarding therespective goods attached thereto.

In a second broad form the present invention provides a display unit fordisplaying goods, the display unit including at least one mounting baradapted to receive a mounting device including:

-   -   a) A housing having:        -   i) An aperture adapted to receive the mounting bar in use;        -   ii) A first mounting; and,        -   iii) A second mounting; and,    -   b) A first fixing device, the first fixing device being coupled        to the goods in use and being attachable to the first mounting        to allow the goods to be selectively attached to the housing;        and,    -   c) A second fixing device, the second fixing device being        coupled to the goods and the second mounting in use, to thereby        secure the goods to the display unit.

The display unit is preferably adapted to receive a display deviceaccording to the first broad form of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of the present invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a mounting device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a display unit for use with themounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fixing device for use with themounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cable holder for use with the mounting deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cable holder of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cable holder of FIG. 6 coupled tothe mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A is a plan view of the cable holder of FIG. 6 coupled to themounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9B is a cross section through the line A-A of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 9C is a cross section through the line D-D of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a tool securer for use with the mountingdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the tool securer of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the tool securer of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a first perspective view of the tool securer of FIG. 10coupled to the mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a second perspective of the tool securer of FIG. 10 coupledto the mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15A is a plan view of the cable holder of FIG. 10 coupled to themounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15B is a cross section through the line B-B of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 15C is a cross section through the line C-C of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16 is an example of the mounting device of FIG. 1 when used withthe cable holder of FIG. 6 to hold a drill; and,

FIG. 17 is an example of the mounting device of FIG. 1 when used withthe tool securer of FIG. 10 to hold a drill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show an example of a mounting device according to theinvention that is used for mounting products, such as tools or the like,on a display stand.

The mounting device 1 includes a housing 2 that is typically formed froma durable high impact plastics material, such as a glass-filled nylon(approx. 15% glass) that is hydrated for strengthening. The housing 2includes an aperture 3, which extends through the housing as shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a first mounting 4, a second mounting 5 and a thirdmounting 6.

As mentioned above, the mounting device is used for attaching productsto a display stand, an example of which is shown in FIG. 4. The displaystand 7 typically includes a substantially vertical surface 8 having anumber of mounting bars 9 aligned parallel to the surface 8, each ofwhich is held in place by a support 9 a, as shown.

In use, the mounting device 1 is attached to the display stand bysliding the mounting device onto one of the mounting bars 9 such thatthe mounting bar extends through the aperture 3, as shown by the dottedlines in FIG. 2.

In use, the first mounting 4 is adapted to receive a fixing device, anexample of which is shown in FIG. 5. As shown, the fixing device 10 isformed from a cylindrical body 11 to which is attached a retaining disk13. Typically, the fixing device 10 is formed from a high impactstyrene, or the like, for strength and durability, although a glassfilled nylon could also be used.

In use, the cylindrical body 11 is coupled to the tool or product to bedisplayed. The fixing device is then inserted in the first mounting 4 bypositioning the retaining disk 13 inside the first mounting 4, tothereby support the fixing device. It will be appreciated that thefixing device may for example be inserted into the chuck of a drill,thereby allowing the drill to be supported by the first mounting 4.

Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, as will be described inmore detail below.

In addition to the first mounting 4, the second mounting 5 is also usedto provide a secondary coupling between the tool or product beingdisplayed and the mounting device 1. This is achieved via the use of anadditional fixing device, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 6 to 15.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a first design of fixing device in the form of acable holder. As shown, the cable holder 20 is formed from a body 21having a number of projections 22, 23 which are used to support a powercable or the like in use. In addition to this, the cable holder includesa clip 24 and a guide 25. In use, the clip 24 is adapted to receive anelectrical plug with the guide 25 being used to guide the electricalcable such that it may be wrapped around the projections 22, 23.

In addition to this, the fixing device includes a clip 26 coupled to thebody 21. In use, the clip 26 is inserted into the second mounting 5 asshown for example in FIG. 8. In this orientation, the clip 26 facestowards the first mounting 3, such that extends below the housing 2 sothat it is parallel with the bottom of the housing 2. As a result ofthis, the clip 26 engages the underside of the housing 2 therebypreventing the cable holder 20 from being easily extracted from thesecond mounting 5.

Accordingly, if tool having a power cable is to be coupled to thedisplay unit, the tool is first fixed to the fixing device 10, allowingthe tool to be removably mounted to the first mounting 4. In addition tothis, the power cable is attached to the cable holder 20, which is thenmounted to the second mounting 5.

The intention of this is that the cable holder 20 cannot be readilyuncoupled from the mounting device 1 by the public, ensuring that thetool remains secured to the mounting device 1, even when the tool isremoved from the first mounting 4.

Accordingly, it is possible to provide a clip 26 that may only beremoved in limited circumstances. Thus, for example, it may be necessaryto use a predesigned tool to remove, or undo the clip 26, therebypreventing the cable holder 20 from being extracted from the secondmounting 5 by people other than designated tool holders.

Alternatively, the clip 26 can be designed so that it is necessary tomove the mounting bar 9 from the aperture 3 in order to allow the cableholder 20 to be removed from the second mounting 5. This can be achievedby having the clip 26 engage the underside of the mounting bar 9 or byhaving the housing 2 flex in the region of the aperture 3.

Finally, it is also possible to have the cable holder 20 removable byhand, by allowing the clip 26 to be urged by hand away from the housing2 or the mounting bar 9. The clip 26 can then pass by the mounting bar 9or the housing such that the cable holder 20 can be removed.

Thus, the clip 6 can be used to provide a very secure mounting that isimpossible to remove by hand, and instead requires either disassembly ofthe display unit or removal with a tool.

This will prevent theft of the tools under almost any circumstance.Alternatively, a less secure mounting that can be removed by hand can beprovided. In this case, it will allow the shop assistants to replace thetools more easily, and yet will still provide some degree of theftprotection by virtue of the clip being difficult to remove, and inparticular being difficult to remove without attracting attention ofsecurity. Accordingly, this clip will prevent theft of the tool undermost circumstances.

The particular mounting choice used will depend to a large degree on thelevel of security required. Accordingly, it will be appreciated thatmore valuable tools, or tools more susceptible to theft may be held bymore secure retaining means.

For tools that do not have an electrical power cable, it is not possibleto use the cable holder shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, analternative tool securer may be used as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

In this example, the tool securer 30 is formed from a body 31 having alug 32 and a mounting hole 33, and a clip 34, as shown. In use, a cableis inserted through the hole 33 and attached to the tool. This istypically achieved by the use of crimping or the like to ensure nonremovable attachment. The tool securer 30 can then be inserted into thesecond mounting 5 by inserting the clip 34 into the second mounting 5 asshown for example in FIGS. 13, 14, 15A, 15B and 15C.

Again, the clip 34 cooperates with the underside of the mounting bar toprevent the tool securer 30 from being easily removed from the mountingdevice 1. It will be appreciated that again, the method of removing thetool securer may be achieved either manually, with the aid of a tool, orby removing the mounting bar 9 from the aperture 3, depending on thelevel of security required.

Finally, the mounting device also includes a third mounting 6 adapted toreceive product information. The product information is typicallyprinted on a card that may be inserted in the third mounting 6, to allowcustomers to determine information, such as specifications, regardingthe product.

It will be appreciated that the placement of this card typicallyoperates to obscure the nature of the connections between the toolsecurer 30 or cable holder 20 and the mounting device 1, thereby helpingprevent any customers from removing the tool securer or cable holderfrom the mounting device.

An example of the mounting device when used with the cable holder tosecure a drill is shown in FIG. 16, with an example using tool securerbeing shown in FIG. 17.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations andmodifications will become apparent. All such variations andmodifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art,should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that theinvention broadly appearing before described.

Thus for example, the mounting bar 9 may have an alternative crosssectional shape, in which case the aperture 3 will have a correspondingshape. This is arranged so that the orientation of the mounting deviceallows tools to be supported.

1. A device for securely mounting goods on a display unit, the displayunit having at least one mounting bar thereon, the device including: a)A housing having: i) An aperture adapted to receive the mounting bar inuse; ii) A first mounting; and, iii) A second mounting; and b) A firstfixing device, the first fixing device being coupled to the goods in useand being attachable to the first mounting to allow the goods to beremovably mounted to the housing; and, c) A second fixing device, thesecond fixing device being coupled to the goods and the second mountingin use, to thereby secure the goods to the display unit, such that thegoods may be removed from the housing whilst remaining secured to thehousing.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the goodsincludes tools the first fixing device is adapted to couple to therespective tool, thereby allowing the tool to be selectively attached tothe housing.
 3. A device according to claim 2, the tool including adrill having a drill chuck adapted to receive the drill bit in use, thefirst fixing device being adapted to be received by the drill chuck. 4.A device according to claim 3, the second fixing device being formedfrom a flexible member to allow the goods to be removed up to a distancedefined by the flexible member.
 5. A device according to claim 4,wherein when the goods include an electrical power cable, the secondfixing device is adapted to receive the power cable to thereby couplethe goods to the second fixing device.
 6. A device according to claim 5,the second fixing device including a cable holder for holding at leastsome of the power cable in use.
 7. A device according to claim 4,wherein when the goods do not include an electrical power cable, thesecond fixing device includes a mounting cable coupled thereto, themounting cable being secured to the goods in use to thereby couple thegoods to the second fixing device.
 8. A device according to claim 7, thesecond fixing device including a clip, the second mounting beingarranged such that in use the clip cooperates with the mounting bar tosecure the goods thereto.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein inuse the clip may be manually released from the mounting bar to therebyselectively release goods.
 10. A device according to claim 9, the devicefurther including product information regarding the respective goodsattached thereto.
 11. (Cancelled)
 12. A display unit for displayinggoods, the display unit including at least one mounting bar adapted toreceive a mounting device including: a) A housing having: i) An apertureadapted to receive the mounting bar in use; ii) A first mounting; andiii) A second mounting; and b) A first fixing device, the first fixingdevice being coupled to the goods in use and being attachable to thefirst mounting to allow the goods to be selectively attached to thehousing; and, c) A second fixing device, the second fixing device beingcoupled to the goods and the second mounting in use, to thereby securethe goods to the display unit.
 13. A display unit according to claim 12,the display unit being adapted to receive a device for securely mountinggoods on a display unit, the display unit having at least one mountingbar thereon, the device including: a) a housing having: i) an apertureadapted to receive the mounting bar in use; ii) a first mounting; and,iii) a second mounting; b) a first fixing device, the first fixingdevice being coupled to the goods in use and being attachable to thefirst mounting to allow the goods to be selectively attached to thehousing, and, c) a second fixing device, the second fixing device beingcoupled to the goods and the second mounting in use, to thereby securethe goods to the display unit.
 14. (Cancelled)
 15. A device for securelymounting goods on a display unit, the goods including an electricalpower cable, the display unit having at least one mounting bar thereon,the device including: a) A housing adapted to be mounted on the mountingbar in use; b) A first fixing device, the first fixing device beingcoupled to the goods in use and being attached to a first mountingprovided on the housing to allow the goods to be selectively attached tothe housing; and c) A second fixing device, the second fixing devicebeing adapted to receive the power cable in use, to thereby secure thegoods to the display unit.
 16. A device according to claim 15, whereinwhen the goods include tools the first fixing device is adapted tocouple to the respective tool, thereby allowing the tool to beselectively attached to the housing.
 17. A device according to claim 16,the tool including a drill having a drill chuck adapted to receive thedrill bit in use, the first fixing device being adapted to be receivedby the drill chuck.
 18. A device according to claim 15, the secondfixing device including a cable holder for holding at least some of thepower cable in use.
 19. A device according to claim 18, the secondfixing device including a clip, the second mounting being arranged suchthat in use the clip cooperates with the mounting bar to secure thegoods thereto.
 20. A device according to claim 18, wherein in use theclip may be manually released from the mounting bar to therebyselectively release the goods.
 21. A device according to claim 19, thedevice further including product information regarding the respectivegoods attached thereto.
 22. (Cancelled)
 23. A display unit fordisplaying goods, the goods including an electrical power cable, thedisplay unit including at least one mounting bar adapted to receive amounting device including: a) A housing adapted to be mounted on themounting bar in use; b) A first fixing device, the first fixing devicebeing coupled to the goods in use and being attachable to a firstmounting provided on the housing to allow the goods to be selectivelyattached to the housing; and, c) A second fixing device, the secondfixing device being adapted to receive the power cable in use, tothereby secure the goods to the display unit.
 24. A display unitaccording to claim 22, the display unit being adapted to receive adisplay device and having at least one mounting bar thereon, the deviceincluding: a) A housing adapted to be mounted on the mounting bar inuse; b) A first fixing device, the first fixing device being coupled tothe goods in use and being attached to a first mounting provided on thehousing to allow the goods to be selectively attached to the housing;and c) A second fixing device, the second fixing device being adapted toreceive the power cable in use, to thereby secure the goods to thedisplay unit.
 25. (Cancelled).
 26. A device for securely mounting goodson a display unit the goods including an electrical power cable, thedisplay unit having at least one mounting bar thereon, the deviceincluding: a) A housing having: i) An aperture adapted to receive themounting bar in use; ii) A first mounting; and, iii) A second mounting;and, b) A first fixing device, the first fixing device being coupled tothe goods in use and being attachable to the first mounting to allow thegoods to be removably mounted to the housing; and c) A second fixingdevice adapted to receive the power cable to thereby couple, the secondfixing device being coupled to the second mounting in use, to therebysecure the goods to the display unit, such that the goods may be removedfrom the housing whilst remaining secured to the housing.
 27. A devicefor securely mounting goods on a display unit, the display unit havingat least one mounting bar thereon, the device including: a) A housinghaving: i) An aperture adapted to receive the mounting bar in use; ii) Afirst mounting; and iii) A second mounting; and, b) A first fixingdevice, the first fixing device being coupled to the goods in use andbeing attachable to the first mounting to allow the goods to beremovably mounted to the housing; and c) A second fixing device, thesecond fixing device being coupled to the goods and the second mountingin use, to thereby secure the goods to the display unit, such that thegoods may be removed from the housing whilst remaining secured to thehousing, the second fixing device including a clip, the second mountingbeing arranged such that in use the clip cooperates with the mountingbar to secure the goods thereto.
 28. A device according to claim 1, thesecond fixing device being formed from a flexible member to allow thegoods to be removed up to a distance defined by the flexible member. 29.A device according to claim 1, wherein when the goods include anelectrical power cable, the second fixing device is adapted to receivethe power cable to thereby couple the goods to the second fixing device.30. A device according to claim 29, the second fixing device including acable holder for holding at least some of the power cable in use. 31 Adevice according to claim 1, wherein when the goods do not include anelectrical power cable, the second fixing device includes a mountingcable coupled thereto, the mounting cable being secured to the goods inuse to thereby couple the goods to the second fixing device.
 32. Adevice according to claim 1, the second fixing device including a clip,the second mounting being arranged such that in use the clip cooperateswith the mounting bar to secure the goods thereto.
 33. A deviceaccording to claim 32, wherein in use the clip may be manually releasedfrom the mounting bar to thereby selectively release goods.
 34. A deviceaccording to any of claim 1, the device further including productinformation regarding the respective goods attached thereto.
 35. Adevice according to any of claim 15, the second fixing device includinga clip, the second mounting being arranged such that in use the clipcooperates with the mounting bar to secure the goods thereto.
 36. Adevice according to any of claim 15 the device further including productinformation regarding the respective goods attached thereto.